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Results tagged ' From the Pages of Vine Line '
From the Pages of Vine Line: The Cubs next wave of talent
Albert Almora could be part of the next big Cubs renaissance. (Photo by Jason Wise)
The following can be found in the Inside Pitch section of February's Vine Line.
"The good ones get to the big leagues fast. The great ones come faster," said Cubs superscout Hugh Alexander, circa 1987.
For Cubs fans, the great ones can't arrive fast enough.
A total of 288 losses—the most of any three-year period in franchise history—has tested everyone from ownership to the beer vendors. There is, however, hope on the horizon.
After two years of aggressively building the minor league system, many of the organization's prized draft choices and international free agents are getting closer to Wrigley Field. Fans might want to circle the third week in June for the possible big league debuts of No. 1 picks Javier Baez (2011) and Kris Bryant (2013).
It's been at least 30 years since the last meaningful renaissance in Cubs player development. In the mid-1980s, GM Dallas Green produced a succession of big league stars, including Greg Maddux, Shawon Dunston, Joe Carter, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark Grace and Jamie Moyer.
But you have to go all the way back to GM John Holland to find the Cubs' longest stretch of player development success since the 1930s. He kept the franchise over .500 for six consecutive seasons between 1967-72.
Under Holland, eventual Hall of Fame third baseman Ron Santo arrived in 1960, followed by two Rookies of the Year—HOF outfielder Billy Williams in '61 and second baseman Ken Hubbs in '62. Even after Hubbs' death in a 1964 plane crash, Holland's astute trades fortified a talented nucleus of Santo, Williams and Ernie Banks.
Now, having drafted in the top 10 three years in a row, the organization hopes to launch another golden age. President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer generally believe hitters need 500 Triple-A at-bats before they're major league ready. Still, exceptions arise.
"We won't rush our young people," said Jason McLeod, VP of scouting and player development. "Each is different, though. We view individual development as a combination of a player and a person being ready."
Shortstop Baez, the ninth-overall pick in 2011, has more experience than third baseman Bryant, the No. 2 overall pick in 2013. But Bryant's maturity makes him equally worthy of promotion.
To merit a quick jump, a player must dominate the competition. Bryant, 22, was the 2013 College Player of the Year, leading the nation with 31 homers.
He then slugged his way through three minor league stops (.336, nine homers, 32 RBI in 128 at-bats) and helped Single-A Daytona win the Florida State League title. He followed that by being named MVP of the Arizona Fall League, a breeding ground for future superstars, with a .364 average and six homers in 20 games.
Between Daytona and Double-A Tennessee, Baez, 21, was one of the most potent offensive players in baseball. He led the minors in RBI (111) and extra-base hits (75) and tied for second in homers (37).
"This young man will be a monster in the majors when he gets there," said an AL scout. "His bat is lightning fast. He might not be patient now (147 strikeouts and 40 walks in 577 at-bats last season), but he'll reduce strikeouts as he moves up and matures."
For Baez, defense is the greater challenge. He committed 44 errors in 2013.
"He has a great arm, and when he learns to control his responses, he'll be a reliable fielder," the scout said.
Though the 6-foot-5 Bryant currently plays the hot corner, many feel he could end up in the outfield.
"Guys over 6-foot-4 generally lack the quickness to stay at third," an NL scout said. "With his presence and work ethic, I don't doubt he can play the position. But with his arm, he could easily play a corner outfield spot."
The goal is to meld the likes of Baez, Bryant, and outfielders Albert Almora and Jorge Soler with young big leaguers Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo and Junior Lake.
Almora, who turns 20 in April, was the Cubs' No. 1 pick in 2012 (6th overall) and hit .329 during an injury-shortened 2013 season at Class-A Kane County. Scouts project some power, and they like his bat control and stroke to all fields. They also rave about his instincts in center. Though he lacks great speed, he makes up for it with quick reads.
Maturity seems to be the hurdle for Soler, who turns 22 in February. In an injury-marred 2013 season with Daytona, he was suspended five games for charging the opposing dugout with a bat and benched one game for not hustling.
The NL scout said Soler, in addition to possessing a strong arm, "has the most natural power in the system." Some scouts believe the Cuban defector is still adjusting to the U.S. after signing a nine-year, $30 million contract in June 2012.
Contractual control can certainly be a consideration in timing a player's promotion to the majors. By postponing a big league debut until the end of June, a team guarantees three full seasons of control before that player becomes arbitration eligible.
Though Baseball America ranks just three pitchers—Arodys Vizcaino, Pierce Johnson and C.J. Edwards—among the organization's top 10 players, there's little cause for concern.
"They have more right-handed power hitting than anyone in baseball," said the NL scout. "If all pan out, they'll be able to add pitching [by trading] hitting depth.
—Bruce Levine and Joel Bierig
From the Pages of Vine Line: 2014 Minor League Prospectus, Pitching Depth
Kyle Hendricks was the Cubs 2013 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. (Matthew Shalbrack/Tennessee Smokies)
For many Chicagoans, February means cold weather. At Vine Line, it's all about the Cubs minor league prospectus. In the February issue, fans can check out frequent contributor Sahadev Sharma's player breakdowns for more than 45 of the organization's top prospects, from teenagers like Eloy Jimenez to elite talents like Javier Baez. We'll post some of the profiles here on the blog in the coming weeks so you can keep track of all the names to know in the Cubs highly ranked system.
Also from the series:
2014 Cubs Minor League Prospectus – The Elite
2014 Cubs Minor League Prospectus – Close to Big Leagues
2014 Cubs Minor League Prospectus – International Impact
The Cubs' last two drafts kicked off with position players Albert Almora and Kris Bryant, but the next dozen rounds or so were focused heavily on adding pitching depth to the system. While the Cubs still lack a knockout pitching prospect (something missing from most systems around baseball), they have some interesting arms acquired via bulk drafting, trades (both major and seemingly minor ones) and international free agency.
The draft strategy the Cubs have employed over the past two Junes has done two things: It's increased their chances of finding a gem who can be a big contributor in their rotation and given them options to fill the bullpen with arms who don't stick as starters. In the long run, this will save the Cubs money and keep them from investing heavily in relievers, who are notoriously erratic from year to year. That way, they can allocate funds in different areas while attempting to improve the major league ballclub.
It's easy for scouts to peg Black as a bullpen arm, because he's a smaller guy with a slender upper body. However, while he does have some effort in his delivery, he brings premium stuff, including a mid-90s fastball and a big-time slider to complement his very aggressive personality on the mound.
"I love watching this guy pitch," said SVP of Scouting and Player Development Jason McLeod. "He is a bulldog and a half."
The most common guess is that Black ends up as a reliever, with the potential to be an elite back-of-the-bullpen arm. But the Cubs are going to keep him in their loaded Tennessee rotation to see if his stuff will play up in a starter's role.
With a strong delivery, three pitches and good arm action, Blackburn has all the ingredients to be an advanced feel pitcher. He relies on plus command, but the youngster had some outings in which his walk totals perplexed the Cubs front office. While he has room to fill out and possibly bring his average fastball into plus territory, Blackburn still projects as an efficient, innings-eating, athletic pitcher even if the velocity stays where it is now.
He can move the ball all around the zone, but he often nibbles, which creates the high walk totals. If he can trust his stuff on a consistent basis, he has everything it takes to develop into a solid middle-of-the-rotation piece.
Recent Dartmouth grad Hendricks is a premium strike thrower who has the ability to cut up both sides of the plate with multiple pitches. He is the type of pitcher who throws to a scouting report rather than relying on pure stuff, and was one of the more efficient pitchers in the Cubs system in 2013. He lasted six innings or more in 19 of his 27 starts and did so while throwing a minimum of pitches.
Though his fastball isn't light, it isn't overpowering either, sitting at 88-92 mph. But his ability to locate the pitch with precision, combined with a cutter he can throw to both sides of the plate, keeps hitters from barreling him up too often. He's never going to rack up strikeouts, but with his four-pitch arsenal, he will keep hitters guessing and could fit nicely in the back end of the Cubs rotation.
Johnson did everything asked of him in 2013 and progressed just as the Cubs hoped he would. He showed steady improvement throughout the season and got stronger as the year went on—his velocity actually ticked up when he was promoted to Daytona.
Johnson is getting better at repeating his delivery, an important point of emphasis as he often finishes upright, causing his fastball to be up in the zone. He also developed more consistency with both command and his breaking ball. His focus this offseason has been on adding weight to his frame, as he looks to increase his workload. He should team up with C.J. Edwards to lead a formidable Tennessee rotation.
With Maples, the key is and always has been consistency with his delivery. After a very up-and-down couple of months at Kane County, Maples was sent down to Boise in July and turned his season around. It was the best many in the Cubs front office had ever seen him perform in terms of his delivery. During that time, Maples got his curveball over the plate and down in the zone, generating swings and misses.
Not only were the results different, but so was Maples' attitude. Observers say he looked more confident on the mound in Boise, with a chest-out bravado. He was aggressive in the zone, a stark contrast to the pitcher who seemed to be constantly thinking about his mechanics and worrying about getting hit, which led to nibbling and high walk totals. If the new and improved Maples can carry over this season, he may end up turning into the steal many thought the Cubs had when he was drafted in the 14th round in 2011.
BARRETT LOUX (RHP) – Loux brings a four-pitch mix, but injuries have diminished the stuff that made him a top 10 pick in Arizona just three years ago. Despite shoulder issues, he still proved competitive on the mound last season. He will continue his shoulder maintenance program with hopes of recovering some of the life on his once-plus fastball and other pitches.
TREY MASEK (RHP) – Masek is on the smaller side, so his eventual role could be out of the bullpen. He uses a fastball-slider combo and has a split-grip change-up. He will be given the chance to be a starter in 2014.
NEIL RAMIREZ (RHP) – The former Rangers first-rounder suffered through shoulder and elbow injuries in 2013, so the Cubs are taking a conservative approach with him. When healthy, he shows a typical three-pitch arm, featuring a fastball that sits at 90-94 mph and a hard slider. The focus is on getting him strong and healthy so he can get through a full season.
TYLER SKULINA (RHP) – Skulina is a big man who touches 96 mph with his fastball and has a swing-and-miss slider. At 6-foot-6, his key is getting consistent rhythm to his delivery. He impressed in instructs and could jump up the rankings if he continues to develop his change-up.
ROB ZASTRYZNY (LHP) – Zastryzny is a hard-nosed lefty with a 90-93 mph downhill fastball, plus curveball and solid change. He's a strong competitor who pitches with a chip on his shoulder and will attack the zone every fifth day.
From the Pages of Vine Line: Jaron Madison on the value of statistics
(Photo by Stephen Green)
The following can be found in the Farm Report section of February's issue of Vine Line.
Every major league team has a department dedicated to analyzing statistics that are designed to help big league managers and players gain an edge over the competition. For player development personnel, however, the potential of statistics isn't yet clear.
Of course, that doesn't mean Cubs farm director Jaron Madison ignores the reports he gets from the number crunchers.
"If you don't pay attention to and use information available to you, you're doing yourself and your club a disservice," he said. "But you have to recognize it's just one tool to help our players get to Wrigley Field."
Just how valuable are stats? It depends on where a player is in the system. Numbers are less valuable to Madison and the Cubs front office when they pertain to players in the organization's lower levels.
"Those players are still growing into themselves and making corrections," he said. "There are still quite a few things they have to learn and work on."
With a Single-A player, Madison said he looks for more general information, such as how that player compares with his peers. As a prospect moves up the ladder and becomes more of a finished product, statistical analysis can help determine how he can best help the Cubs at the big league level or what tweaks he must make to get there.
"By the time they reach [Triple-A] Iowa, players have already had four or five years to work on specific tools and develop into who they are," he said.
One thing Madison doesn't do with numbers is use them to set benchmarks. Leadoff hitters, for instance, aren't required to walk a certain number of times, and pitchers aren't told they'll be promoted only if their ERAs stay under a specific number.
"Our evaluations are more comprehensive, paying attention to how guys control the zone on both sides of the ball," Madison said. "We look at the things they can control."
Plus, there is definitely such a thing as too much information, especially for players. Young hitters, Madison said, can put too much stock in their home run totals and batting averages, often to the detriment of their overall development.
"It's more important for our hitters to work on the process and focus on having good at-bats," he said. "You can square it up and hit the ball hard seven out of 10 times but hit it right at someone. Or you can go up there and get on base on six balls that don't leave the infield."
That means Cubs minor league coaches must convince prospects to forget about their numbers, which isn't an easy task in such a results-oriented business. Hitters often take a while to realize that striking out but seeing 15 pitches can actually be a good thing in the long run.
The bottom line is the Cubs don't want prospects thinking too much when they're on the field, and statistics can definitely lead to overthinking.
"The message we send our players is to have a plan and work that plan," Madison said. "Yes, we will tell them they need to control the zone better to get a good pitch to hit. But when they get that pitch, it's OK to let it rip."
Statistical analysis is yet another tool to help Madison and his staff move prospects forward in the system, but every team has access to similar information. It's how the Cubs use all this new data—and keep players focused on their development plan—that will determine how useful the numbers really are.
From the Pages of Vine Line: 2014 Minor League Prospectus, International Impact
Shortstop Gleyber Torres was one of baseball's top international prospects in 2013. (Image by Bill Mitchell)
For many Chicagoans, February means cold weather. At Vine Line, it's all about the Cubs minor league prospectus. In the February issue, fans can check out frequent contributor Sahadev Sharma's player breakdowns for more than 45 of the organization's top prospects, from teenagers like Eloy Jimenez to elite talents like Javier Baez. We'll post some of the profiles here on the blog in the coming weeks so you can keep track of all the names to know in the Cubs highly ranked system.
Also from the series:
2014 Cubs Minor League Prospectus- The Elite
2014 Cubs Minor League Prospectus- Close to the Big Leagues
Over the past 15 years, the Cubs have done well on the international free agent market, especially in Latin America. From Carlos Zambrano to Starlin Castro to, most recently, Junior Lake, the organization continually produces international players who impact the major league roster.
However, while teams like the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees were competing for big-money players, the Cubs were content to sign low-cost free agents and hope their bulk purchases would eventually pay off. But with the signing of Soler in 2012, the new Cubs regime announced to the baseball world they were becoming serious players in the international community. Even with spending restrictions in place, the trend continued in 2013, as the Cubs blew past their allotted cap, signing numerous highly regarded prospects. Due to their free-spending ways, they will have even harsher limits on their spending next summer, but clearly Epstein and company believed the talent level available this year made it worth the risk.
Along with the many players inked during the international signing period in July, the Cubs also have some intriguing names who are young and still growing into their bodies. These raw athletes likely won't make an impact at Wrigley anytime soon, but they help create the depth necessary to ensure the Cubs system can consistently funnel talent to the big league roster.
At just 17 years of age, Jimenez is already a physical specimen. He was the consensus top player in last summer's international free agent class, and the Cubs paid him accordingly, giving him a $2.8 million bonus, the highest handed out in 2013.
The Dominican native already has great strength, and scouts expect him to display his tremendous raw power in game action as he continues to grow. Jimenez also has the strong arm and athleticism necessary to play a solid right field.
Many considered Torres the second-best prospect in the 2013 class, just behind Jimenez, but that's where the similarities end. Torres doesn't project to have much power—he might touch double-digit home runs at his peak—but he already has an advanced hitting ability and approach for his age.
If his development goes as expected, the Venezuelan could hit for a high average, knocking doubles into the gaps while playing plus defense at shortstop.
Of the big names the Cubs signed this July, the 19-year-old Tseng could be the most developed. He throws a lot of strikes with three strong pitches—a split-finger fastball, curve and slider—and his fastball can touch 95. With an advanced feel for pitching, it wouldn't shock anyone if Tseng started the year in Kane County.
The Taiwanese pitcher has already performed on a bigger stage than most international free agents, pitching for his home country in both the World Baseball Classic and the 18U World Championship Games. Though the overall quality of his stuff was down in his most recent outings, some believe it was due to heavy usage. Some time off should help as he gets acclimated to a less intense workload stateside.
Candelario first caught scouts' eyes in 2011, when he posted a .443 on-base percentage at the age of 17 in the Dominican Summer League. While those statistics should be taken with a grain of salt, he also performed well the following year in Boise, earning time at full-season Kane County in 2013.
While the numbers at Kane County don't jump off the page, his performance was still impressive considering his age and the league in which he was playing.
A switch-hitter with a feel for the zone, Candelario, who was born in New York but grew up in the Dominican, is still growing into what McLeod referred to as his "man strength," which should help increase his power numbers in the future.
In 2012, Balaguert was sent to Peoria (the Cubs' low-A affiliate at the time) and performed poorly, hitting only .208 in 149 at-bats. But he rebounded for a solid season after spending most of 2013 at Boise. He is still trying to figure out who he is as a hitter, but he's strong, has a lot of power and is learning to control the strike zone better.
Balaguert is the type of athlete with a wide variance of possible end points. In 2014, he could explode into a top prospect or struggle mightily and get lost among the numerous other talented players in the Cubs system. If things do click for the young Cuban, it'll be a credit to his tremendous work ethic as well as the Cubs' scouting and player development team for identifying and molding a truly raw kid into a valuable piece of the puzzle.
ERICK LEAL (RHP) – This 18-year old, acquired for Tony Campana, is tall and lanky with average velocity and good feel for a change-up. He's a strike thrower with minimal walks and a good understanding of pitching. The Cubs hope his velocity will tick up as he gains strength.
CARLOS PENALVER (SS) – The best defensive shortstop in the system, Penalver has smooth hands, easy transfer and plenty of arm strength. He also shows the ingredients of someone who can handle the bat, including a good idea of the zone and strong swing path. He needs to gain weight and strength to put his offensive skill set to use at the major league level.
JEFFERSON MEJIA (RHP) – Mejia has a big frame and projects to have three plus offerings if he fills out and adds velocity to his current 87-90 mph fastball. He works down in the zone and keeps bats off his fastball with an advanced change-up and a quality breaking ball.
ERLING MORENO (RHP) – This 6-foot-7 Colombian throws in the low-90s with a change-up that can miss bats and an average curveball. His athleticism allows him to repeat his delivery with consistency, something that can often be an issue with taller pitchers.
—Sahadev Sharma
From the Pages of Vine Line: Ron Coomer makes his Chicago return
New radio analyst Ron Coomer spent the 2001 season with the Cubs. (Photo by Stephen Green)
The following can be found in the February issue of Vine Line.
Who says you can never go home again?
After nine years working for the Twins—the team with which he made his major league debut in 1995 and spent the bulk of his professional playing career—Ron Coomer will join play-by-play man Pat Hughes in the Cubs broadcast booth for WGN Radio. He replaces Keith Moreland, who left after three years with the club to be closer to his family in Texas.
The affable 47-year-old, affectionately known as "Coom Dawg," most recently worked on the Twins' pre- and postgame shows for Fox Sports North and often filled in for Bert Blyleven during game broadcasts. He also hosted a music show on KTWN, the radio station that began airing Twins games in 2013.
For all intents and purposes, Coomer and his family were extremely happy in the North Star State, and they weren't looking to make a move. But when your dream job comes open, it's hard to pass up the opportunity.
And Coomer has been waiting for the chance to broadcast Cubs games since he hung on Jack Brickhouse's every word as a child growing up on Chicago's West and South sides. Throughout his career as a player and broadcaster, he has always been eager to get back to his hometown.
The Lockport (Ill.) Township High School graduate spent nine years as a major league player and was named to the 1999 American League All-Star team as a member of the Twins. When he reached free agency for the first time after six years in Minnesota, he signed with the Cubs in a matter of days. He spent only one year on the North Side before moving on to the Dodgers and Yankees, but he returned to establish the On Deck Baseball Academy in Orland Park following his playing career.
Once Moreland announced he was leaving, Coomer received a call from Hughes asking if he'd be interested in the job. That kicked off a series of interviews with WGN and the Cubs front office that culminated in his hiring on Dec. 13. We spoke to Coomer just after he joined the Cubs radio team, and needless to say, he's very happy to be coming home.
Vine Line: You went to high school on Chicago's South Side. How did you end up a Cubs fan?
Ron Coomer: I actually grew up right by Midway Airport. I was two blocks from Midway on that southwest side of the city. I grew up a Cubs fan for one simple reason: When you ran home after school, the Cubs game was always on in the daytime, and you could catch the last four innings of the game with Jack Brickhouse or whoever was broadcasting.
I couldn't get the White Sox games on our TV when I was a little guy. So that started me being a Cubs fan as a real little kid. Once I started doing that, then my dad would take me to Wrigley Field on a regular basis, and I just fell in love with going to Wrigley and watching the ballgames. I never really went to Comiskey Park back in the day. I always went to Wrigley. I wasn't real popular with my grandparents and some of the people in my family, but it's worked out pretty good so far.
VL: You'd been with the Twins for a long time. What made you want to chase the Cubs job?
RC: I had a very good situation in Minnesota. I do 100 broadcasts for Fox with Twins baseball. I have a music radio show here in town on the Twins Network that we do on drive time every afternoon from 3-7. I really enjoyed my time here. This has been home for a long time now. But I've always wanted to do games. Every player, when you get into the broadcast booth, you want to be a part of the game broadcast.
When the Cubs job came available, I didn't know if I would be thought of at all, but I got a call from Pat Hughes asking me if I was interested. Probably the only place I would go to leave Minnesota would be the Chicago Cubs. My situation with family and everything [in Minnesota] is phenomenal. But it's the Cubs job. It's been a dream of mine since before I knew I could hit a baseball.
VL: In baseball, you seldom get to choose the city in which you play or work. What's it like for you to get a chance to come home to Chicago?
RC: It's incredible. I can't even describe it. As a player, I became a free agent, and by 9 a.m. the first morning, [former General Manager] Andy MacPhail had a contract couriered over to my house. So at 9 o'clock in the morning, Day One of free agency, I had a great deal from Andy. Two or three days later, I was a Cub. I started fielding some calls from other teams, and I'm like, "Don't even bother. We're already done." And they're like, "But free agency just started." I go, "Nah, not for me it didn't. It's over." So that took all of three days. When this job became available, [it's a] lifelong dream. To be in Major League Baseball doing this—as crazy as the baseball life is—you couldn't ask for anything more.
VL: What's your relationship like with your new partner, Pat Hughes?
RC: Pat's just one of the nicest people in the world. I've always made a point when I come to the ballpark or I'm going to a game at Wrigley to see Pat and whoever was broadcasting, because they're such good people. So you want to say "hi" and kind of renew your friendship, even if it's just for that day. It's been that kind of relationship for a long time with Pat, where you really respect what he does and how he does it and the kind of person he is. So I've always made a point to try and see him, and we've been friends for a long time. Now we're going to be partners.
VL: Can you describe your style in the booth?
RC: I'm kind of analytical when it comes to understanding the little nuances of the game, whether it's your swing as a hitter or what certain things are happening with a pitcher. I basically talk about the pitcher from the hitter's perspective. So fans will get an idea of what's going on with the pitcher, what the hitter is looking for from the pitcher, how the pitcher is trying to set the hitter up, things like that. I love the intricacies of baseball and those little battles that happen throughout the day. Those are very fun for me, and they're fun to try and get across to the fans.
VL: Did you have any broadcasting idols growing up in the city?
RC: I grew up watching Cubs baseball. Jack Brickhouse was our broadcaster when I was a young kid—and I mean a young kid. You're talking 4, 5, 6, 7 years old when you're just watching with bright eyes and listening to how excited Jack Brickhouse would get over a Cubs game and a Cubs win. I think he stood out the most to me as a young kid.
VL: You're obviously not the first Ron in the WGN Radio booth. Is that legacy a little daunting?
RC: Without question it's daunting when you look back at the names, from Lou Boudreaux to Vince Lloyd to Brickhouse and all those people. And the analysts—Steve Stone was there forever. But Ron Santo and I became friends when I signed with the Cubs. You know, Ronnie was a third baseman. I was a third baseman. We'd go out after games on the road and go have dinner and hang out. You just loved his passion for everything he did. And if it had something to do with the Cubs, there was nobody more passionate than Ron Santo. It was infectious with everybody. It's one of those things I'll always remember. Some of his calls on the air were just priceless. You couldn't make them up. So it is daunting. As a Cubs fan, you look at that and go, "How cool is this that I'm going to be a part of that family that's been doing these games since I was a little kid?"
VL: You played for the Cubs in 2001. Do you have a favorite Wrigley Field memory from your time here?
RC: There are a few. I think Opening Day that year. It was great just to be part of Opening Day. I had some good games at Wrigley. You hit a couple of home runs or something like that. I remember a few games like that. But it was like a daily routine of you jog out to third base to start a game, and you look around the stands and go, "Yep, I sat over there. I sat over there. I was with my dad there watching a game." Now you're in uniform, and my friends and my family are coming out to Wrigley Field, and I'm on the field. The biggest memory of Wrigley is that—is having that emotion almost every day.
VL: How excited are you to call Wrigley Field your office again?
RC: Wrigley Field and Fenway Park are the last two of a dying breed. It's baseball. When you walk into Wrigley Field, and you come up from the concourse, and you look down at that green field and the ivy, that to me is what baseball is all about. It's not the new stadiums and all the big stuff. That's all great. All these new ballparks are phenomenal. Target Field is great here in Minneapolis. But when you look at those fields like Wrigley Field, that's what baseball is to me. It's a nostalgic old look and knowing guys like Babe Ruth were in the batter's box, and Ernie Banks and Santo and Billy Williams. All these guys have played in that ballpark. That's what baseball is—the old with the new.
VL: What's your take on what the Cubs front office is doing to try to build a winner?
RC: What the Cubs are doing is exactly what's been going on here in Minnesota for the last few years. It's the only way you can build a team and have it sustain itself. You can't go out and not have homegrown players make an impact on your club day after day. It just doesn't work. It might work for half a season. It might work for a season. But it doesn't sustain itself for the long haul. So you have to build from the bottom up, and you have to have homegrown players contribute in a big way to the success of the organization. Then you add pieces to that. That's the only way things work in Major League Baseball for any length of time.
VL: You've been in baseball your whole life. What do you do to get away from the game?
RC: I do a couple of different things. I'm a big golfer—love to play golf. I live on a golf course here in Minneapolis. So I'll play some golf in the summer in Chicago. And I'm a bike rider. I love to bike—pedal bike—so I'll be biking around the city. God knows I'll probably bike to Wrigley Field a few times.
From the Pages of Vine Line: 2014 Minor League Prospectus, The Elite
Top pitching prospect C.J. Edwards should start 2014 at Double-A Tennessee. (Photo by Aldrin Capulong/Daytona Cubs)
For many Chicagoans, February means cold weather. At Vine Line, it's all about the Cubs minor league prospectus. In the February issue, fans can check out player breakdowns for more than 45 of the organization's top prospects, from teenagers like Eloy Jimenez to elite talents like Javier Baez. We'll post some of frequent contributor Sahadev Sharma's player profiles here on the blog in the coming weeks so you can keep track of all the names to know in the Cubs highly-ranked system.
When President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein introduced Jason McLeod as the Cubs' VP of scouting and player development, Epstein referred to his new hire as a "secret weapon." More than two years later, it's easy to see why Epstein was so effusive in his praise.
Under McLeod's watch, the scouting department hasn't stopped working to revamp a system that's jumped from the lower third of baseball to arguably one of the best in the game. Whether it's through trades, international free agency or the draft, McLeod and his staff are grinding tirelessly to improve the Cubs farm system. This past season, he and former farm director Brandon Hyde oversaw one of the more fruitful years in recent memory in terms of player development, as prospects like Pierce Johnson, Javier Baez and Kyle Hendricks all took big steps forward.
Hyde will switch roles in 2014 to become new manager Rick Renteria's bench coach, and Jaron Madison, formerly the director of amateur scouting, will take his place. Madison will oversee a minor league coaching staff that experienced minimal turnover after undergoing a major overhaul heading into the 2013 season. That continuity gives the Cubs confidence their recent player development success at the minor league level will continue, and there is certainly reason to believe the positive trend in scouting will carry into 2014 as well.
One of the most important steps in the process—and certainly one of the most exciting—could take place this season, as some of the team's highly touted prospects may finally get a chance to shine at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs system has it all: elite-level talent, near-ready bats and arms, raw youth and some real pitching depth. It doesn't have a consensus top-of-the-rotation arm, but due to some shrewd trades and bulk drafting, it's stocked with pitchers to dream about over the next few seasons.
Without further ado, let's take a look at many of the key names to know. Some could be arriving at Wrigley soon—others still may be years away—but the Cubs hope they will all earn their stripes at some point down the line.
The Elite
Not long ago, the top of the Cubs system consisted of players who were lucky to break into the top 50 of most national prospect rankings. Those days are gone. Entering last season, it was all about the big three—Javier Baez, Albert Almora and Jorge Soler. After last June's draft, Kris Bryant entered the conversation. Then the Cubs traded Matt Garza for a little-known righty, formerly of the South Carolina bush leagues, named C.J. Edwards, who simply lit up the Florida State League and vaulted himself among the game's top prospects.
Having elite talent, or impact talent, as the front office often calls it, is a difference maker. The Cubs have done well in stockpiling high-ceiling players over the past few seasons and, in doing so, have increased their chances of producing a top-tier major leaguer in the near future.
There have been rumblings that both Baez and Bryant could reach the big leagues in 2014. While they both certainly have immense talent, forecasting All-Star-caliber production from the get-go may be a bit optimistic. But great expectations come with the territory, given the system the Cubs have assembled. All five of these players are aware of the pressure that comes with strong performance, yet they're prepared to try to live up to it. As Almora once said about hype, "Bring it on."
Watching Almora play, no one tool stands out as elite. However, it's the complete package, including his tremendous makeup and infectious confidence, that really sets him apart.
"For a guy without an 80 tool (the top grade on the scouting scale), he's a game changer," McLeod said. "He won't light up scouts with his power or speed, but he lights you up just by watching him play."
Like Soler, Almora was felled by injuries in 2013. A wrist injury sidelined him early and a bone bruise in his groin ended his season prematurely in August. However, Almora returned to action in the Arizona Fall League, posting a very impressive .307/.342/.480 line and playing his usual stellar defense despite being the second-youngest player in the league.
Baez's game can be described in one word: aggressive. But his style of play is both helpful and detrimental. The Puerto Rico native believes he can hit any ball 500 feet and make every play on defense. This can result in wild swings at the plate and poor decisions in the field.
"I've never seen anything like him, to be honest," McLeod said. "He's a tough one to put into one box. On certain nights, he looks like the best player you've ever laid eyes on, and then you might walk in and he's 0-for-4 with three punch-outs and looks awful doing it because the swing is so violent."
But Baez passed what many feel is the toughest test for a developing player (outside of the big leagues, of course) by crushing Double-A pitching, hitting 20 of his 37 home runs in 54 games at that advanced level. He'll always have high strikeout totals, even if he continues to improve, but a player who can hit the ball 430-plus feet to every part of the field is rare. As McLeod said, if he can take that final step and figure out when to be aggressive and when to tone it down at the plate or stick a ball in his pocket on defense, Baez can be as good as anybody.
The Cubs selected Bryant second overall in last June's draft, and it didn't take him long to make an impact. The slugging third baseman followed up a historic college season by hitting at every level, then going on to play in the AFL, where he was named league MVP.
Bryant may end up in right field when all is said and done, but when it comes to hitting, he is a true student of the game. The 22-year-old will likely rack up some strikeouts, but he has a chance to become a consistent star—someone who hits .240 with 25 home runs in a bad year and .280 with 40-plus bombs and an impressive on-base percentage at his peak. Bryant prides himself on his knowledge of the game and is always studying video, working to improve his swing and refining his defense at the hot corner.
With his combination of talent, work ethic and movie-star good looks, Bryant's face could someday be plastered all over billboards from Wrigleyville to Rockford.
Edwards has all the stuff to be a top-of-the-rotation arm—a downhill fastball with nasty cutting action, big curveball and solid change-up. The question with him is whether he has the durability to handle the load of 180-plus innings in the big leagues.
At 6-foot-2 and just over 160 pounds, the "String Bean Slinger" is lean and lanky—hardly the prototypical build of a workhorse ace. The focus this offseason has been his training program, as the Cubs are attempting to add some weight to his frame to prepare him for the rigors of a six-month season.
Edwards certainly has the necessary work ethic to get his body where it needs to be. Even if he can't add much weight, he projects as an elite reliever who could help solidify the back end of the Cubs bullpen for years to come. Either way, Edwards will lead what looks to be a very impressive rotation in Tennessee next season.
After a stress fracture in his left tibia ended Soler's 2013 season early, he was left with a combined 89 professional games in the Cubs organization over two seasons. His limited playing time has evaluators wondering where his true talent level lies. Looking to shake off the rust, Soler played in the Arizona Fall League. At times, he looked uninterested, often failing to run out ground balls. But according to McLeod, Soler had been given specific instructions not to run too hard on easy outs to protect his recently injured foot.
The goal in the AFL was for the Cuban prospect to continue honing his swing mechanics (something the Cubs have been working on since he was signed), see some pitches and get some reps in the outfield.
The bottom line: Soler has immense power, a tremendous work ethic and all the tools needed to catapult himself back among the elite prospects. The hope is a healthy spring will allow him to start the year at Tennessee and finally put together that strong, full season the Cubs have been hoping for since he signed.
From the Pages of Vine Line: Cubs Jaron Madison a team player
The following can be found in the January issue of Vine Line.
(Photo by Stephen Green)
The Cubs front office made one under-the-radar move this winter that's no less important than signing a big free agent. With Brandon Hyde moving to the dugout to serve as bench coach for new manager Rick Renteria, the Cubs shifted scouting director Jaron Madison to the vacated farm director spot.
That makes the 38-year-old Madison the guardian of the team's future, a role he admits comes with a great deal of pressure as the Cubs move forward with their plan to build a sustainable winner from within. But that pressure, he said, is one reason he left the Padres a year ago in a lateral move to the Cubs.
"San Diego is a great organization, but working for an organization with the history and tradition of the Cubs is a bigger challenge," Madison said. "I know how much more it would mean to the city when we win. Chicago sports fans are some of the best sports fans in the world."
In Madison, the Cubs have a farm director with a strong track record. Since beginning his career in scouting and player development in 2002 with the Padres, he has worked for two other teams, the Cardinals and the Pirates, that have cultivated winning big league teams from within.
The common thread among all three organizations, Madison said, is the constant, open communication that extends from the big league front office all the way down to the low minor league levels. For the farm system to produce, everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction.
And few people are more capable of keeping everyone together than Madison.
"He's very intelligent and has a great presence," said Hyde, whose relationship with Madison extends back to the late '90s, when they played together at Long Beach State. "I think a key to him being a great leader is he's a great listener."
That was an obvious asset for him as a scout, a job that relies on relationship building with young players and their parents and coaches. But while Madison said his new job is completely different, he'll still need to flex those relationship-building muscles.
"Everyone has to have complete buy-in, and to get there everyone needs to know what's going on at all times," he said. "There can't be any whispering going on behind closed doors."
Madison will spend the summer doing the same thing he did after the draft last year—traveling in a constant loop among Cubs affiliates to talk, listen and observe. Hyde said he thinks Madison will love it.
"The relationships you build with the staff members, the constant interaction with the coaches, rovers and instructors, and the process of getting your organization to be successful make it a fun job," Hyde said.
But both Hyde and Madison understand the job is not about having fun. Not with a nation of Cubs fans anxious for a return to winning baseball.
"I read the blogs," Madison said. "I know how much the fans want it."
Madison, of course, is in firm agreement with the rest of the Cubs brain trust, preaching patience with the process and avoiding any firm deadlines on when the organization will turn the corner.
"I'm really excited about the guys we have in our organization," he said. "I see a core of strong players we can build on and rely on for the foreseeable future, and I think the payoff will be a lot sooner than people may think."
From the Pages of Vine Line: Moving forward with Rick Renteria
(Photo by Dave Durochik)
This offseason, the Cubs named former Padres bench coach Rick Renteria the 53rd manager in the organization's history. Though he's a first-time major league skipper, Renteria is a baseball lifer, spending the last 30 years in the game in some capacity. This month, Vine Line sat down with the 52-year-old to get a better understanding of his philosophy, his take on the job and much more. The following can be found in the January issue of Vine Line.
You could call it a premonition.
About 10 years ago, with the Cubs in the early stages of a successful run that saw them claim the NL Central crown three times in six years, Rick Renteria was coaching his son's baseball team when one of the moms, who happened to be from Chicago, mentioned he would make a great manager for the North Siders. Perhaps it was his calm demeanor or the way he patiently explained things to the young players, but something struck a chord with her.
Renteria didn't think much of it, but the conversation stuck with him over the years.
"Well, I hope she had a premonition that we're going to have a lot of success," joked the 52-year-old California native, who was recently named the 53rd manager in Cubs franchise history.
Renteria, a 30-year baseball veteran who has spent the last three seasons as the bench coach for manager Bud Black's San Diego Padres, wasn't the most likely choice or the highest-profile name out there. But what that team mom said a decade ago turned out to be surprisingly prescient. The first-time big league manager joins the Cubs organization with a reputation as a relentless optimist and an experienced shaper of young talent. And he might be the perfect fit for a team that is looking for a new voice and is stacked with high-upside young prospects just a year or two away from the major leagues.
Though Renteria is well aware of the Cubs' recent history, it's not his style to dwell on the past. It's his job to take a franchise in the midst of a youth movement and help it improve and move forward. He credits much of his positive coaching style to his former Single-A manager Johnny Lipon, who coached Renteria at Single-A Alexandria in his third professional season in 1982.
"[He was] the most positive individual I've ever seen," Renteria said of Lipon. "Here's a guy who was a shortstop with the Detroit Tigers in a different era. He was an infielder. His demeanor was one that kept moving you forward, and that stayed and resonated with me."
Renteria was officially hired on Nov. 7, 2013, but he didn't make his first appearance at Wrigley Field until Dec. 5 because of offseason hip surgery. In his initial foray in front of the Chicago media, he certainly lived up to his reputation as an excellent communicator and an easy guy to get along with.
"I was struck by how comfortable I was watching him," said President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein of Renteria. "Normally when you hire somebody new, and he meets the media for the first time, you're kind of holding your breath to make sure he doesn't put his foot in his mouth. We've worked with Ricky for a month now, and I was totally comfortable. I was actually checking emails while he was talking because I feel I already trust who he is as a human being. He comes from a genuine place, he's extremely intelligent, relates to people really well, so it's nice to really trust somebody in that role."
The Cubs' new hire has spent his early days as manager reaching out to his new players by phone or text and filling out his first coaching staff. He's planning to head out to Arizona soon to see the new practice facility firsthand and to start working with his coaches on a plan for Spring Training. Vine Line was there for Renteria's introduction to the Chicago media, at which he opened up about his plans for 2014, his notoriously positive disposition and his previous relationship with Cubs GM Jed Hoyer.
Vine Line: What was it that made you want to take the job here in Chicago? You may have heard from guys like Dusty Baker and Lou Piniella, this can be a difficult place to manage.
Rick Renteria: It's a wonderful city, first of all. But the team that's out there, the kids that are here, as you're watching from the other side, they're a very talented group. I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to be here and be with this particular club. I'm looking forward to hopefully moving things forward and chipping away at whatever we need to chip away at to continue to advance the process. It's just a great challenge. It's a great opportunity.
VL: Is there any overall philosophical difference we're going to notice from the first days of Spring Training?
RR: I think everybody comes in probably not trying to reinvent the wheel. We want guys that are going to give us great effort, guys that are going to hustle, guys that are going to prepare. I'm sure these are things that everybody asks of their players. They're young players. [They need to understand] that, as professionals, this is part of who they're supposed to be. We want to be a club that's going to be aggressive on the bases, that's going to be smart, that's not going to be reckless. A club that's going to hopefully continue to grind through at-bats, execute, and get beyond falling into the trap of if you get a bad call against you, you get bothered and that you continue to add to that spiral by not finishing out a plate appearance or a tactical hit or whatever the case might be. A club that's there to pick each other up.
Hopefully, these guys come together as a kind of family. I think if you have that, you start to build your own chemistry, and it can be a strength.
VL: You said in your initial press conference that you think the team can compete this year. The Cubs lost 96 games last year and haven't made significant improvements yet. What's going to be different in 2014?
RR: Well, I can't speak to the losses of the past. My mentality has always been to continue to move forward. What we can do is learn from that experience. What occurred? What kind of mentalities did we have? What approaches did we have? What were the things that occurred during a particular ballgame that maybe changed the dynamic of that particular ballgame? Those are the things we have to study and retrack and retrace and use to our advantage.
The players we have, they're intelligent. They're gifted. Starlin Castro, [Darwin] Barney, [Anthony] Rizzo. You had a combination of guys at third base with [Luis] Valbuena and [Donnie] Murphy. Then you had Welington Castillo and Junior Lake, who came up later on during the year. These are guys that have talent. [Ryan] Sweeney. Nate Schierholtz is an experienced player who's been around a little bit. You have the makeup of a club that can do some things. I think you're playing in the big boy division [in the NL Central]. We all grew up wanting to play against the big guys. Well, here we are. That's our lot. That's the challenge. We have to accept it and do what we can with it and move forward.
VL: This is a team that's going through some growing pains right now. So how is a guy with your positive disposition going to manage that?
RR: I try to maintain an even-keeled approach. No player wants to go out there and fail. They want to do well, and I think I understand that. We know that the game is about the players and that sometimes we need to help them through those moments when things aren't going very well. Hopefully, we're able to articulate what it is they need to do to improve, whether it's their approach or if it's a physical action that we're able to address and help them move forward.
VL: Did you put your coaching staff together with that in mind?
RR: I think so. Speaking to all of the [coaches], their attitudes are extremely positive. They're going to bring in the idea of wanting to continue to teach. Sometimes we forget that players still want to learn. They're never not learning. We have to be able to present a consistent message. I think all these guys that are going to come on board have that ability.
VL: You talk of being even-keeled. Do you have a temper?
RR: Oh, I can get hot. Any competitor can get hot. You've got to pick your spots. I don't think players appreciate people just losing it for the sake of losing it. Will I do it for the sake of people watching me do it? No. You may not see me do it at all, but I can't guarantee that. When it happens, it's got to be the right time. Those things kind of take care of themselves. It's a feel thing. If you're a guy that's pretty even-keeled and then you end up losing it, [players] understand that you mean business, that it means a little bit more. But, for the most part, I think conversations need to be had behind closed doors.
VL: This organization has a lot of potential stars that are perhaps a year or so away. Have you looked at some of those players, and how excited are you to manage them down the road?
RR: Obviously, I'm very excited about the guys we have right now. And I look at the players that are coming, and we have some talent in the organization. They've done a wonderful job in drafting and selecting some of these players. Right now, my focus is going to continue to be on the guys that are here. They're extremely talented, and—it's like anything—they have to put it forward between the lines.
I think if we maintain a consistent and positive message, we'll be able to have some of these players do what they're capable of doing. There are peaks and valleys, but that's where, as a manager and a coaching staff, we have to remain even-keeled and give them an opportunity to keep moving forward.
VL: Castro has been in that valley for a while. What's your approach to turning a young veteran like that around?
RR: People ask me about Starlin, and I watch him from the other side and think, "Gosh, what a tremendously gifted athlete." First of all, I've got to get to know him as a person, and I have to figure out what it is that moves him. He's a wonderful kid. I actually was able to speak to him at length. He was one of the first guys I called, and he's willing to do anything we ask him to do. I know people talk about him losing focus and having bad at-bats and things of that nature, and we have to address those things.
Sometimes we don't have conversations thinking we don't want to have a confrontation or maybe we won't like the answer we're going to get. But the reality is you have to have dialogue. The only way you can improve things is to converse and to try to [give players] a plan or an idea of how they can move forward. That's one of the things we're going to have to do as teachers. The whole coaching staff is going to have to approach this as being teachers.
VL: What's your take on using advanced metrics to influence pitching decisions, defensive positioning and the like?
RR: I think all information is actually quite useful. It's how you decipher it and how you use it—how you apply it. If you limit your understanding, you're doing yourself a disservice. I use numbers. I've used numbers since I was in the minor leagues. I used to keep numbers on my board when people weren't using numbers. But it's how you use them and how you apply them [that determines] how beneficial they really are.
It's basically consequences and outcomes. It's telling you what guys have been doing. Sometimes you still have to put your eyes on those guys to have an idea of what they're doing at that particular moment. You can't limit yourself. You've got to use a combination.
VL: You have a reputation for connecting with young players. In your career, you've done just about everything. You've played, you've managed in the minor leagues, you've coached in the major leagues. Is that what allows you to understand what players are going through?
RR: Probably that and probably the idea that, you know, I was pretty much a grunt coming up through the systems [as a player]. I fought and hustled through every ground out and everything I could possibly do to play this game. I understand and appreciate the privilege it is to be here as a player. I understand that most people when they come out to see a ballgame, they want to see somebody give you a good effort—beyond winning. They want to know that you're invested in what it is you're doing. Hopefully, that comes out in how I approach the players, because I am invested in this.
VL: Describe your relationship with Jed Hoyer. You worked together in the Padres organization. Is that familiarity one of the factors that made you want to come here?
RR: Jed, you know, was in San Diego. And when he was there, we used to have conversations when he'd come down to talk to Buddy [Black] and what have you. For me, it's nice to be in a familiar setting, knowing the people I'm going to be working for, or alongside. That played a factor in how things progressed. I expressed that this was the place I wanted to be. I saw the makeup of what's coming up. I like who we have here now, and I think it's going to be something that we can move forward.
VL: Everybody has an opinion about playing at Wrigley Field. You've been here as a player and as a coach. What was your take on this place as an outsider?
RR: Awesome. I don't think there's any player that ever comes into Chicago thinking, "This is a bad place to play." We loved coming here. Everybody does. It's a great city. The fans are always there. Even if they're booing against you, at least you know everybody's in it. That's a tremendous asset for this team to have, quite frankly. Their home-field advantage is their community—is their fan base. When we understand it and use it and take it to our advantage and really understand how it works, hopefully we'll be able to articulate that message, and we'll get it, and we'll be able to do some things that make the fans feel really good.
From the Pages of Vine Line: Q&A with Pedro Strop
(Photo by Stephen Green)
The Cubs acquired right-handed reliever Pedro Strop in early July as part of the haul for starting pitcher Scott Feldman. The 28-year-old got an opportunity to be a late-innings reliever for the North Siders down the stretch in 2013, and the organization hopes he can contribute to the bullpen again in 2014. The following can be found in the January issue of Vine Line.
COMMAND AND CONTROL In Baltimore, I was passing through a bump in the road. I know I can pitch. It's just things weren't going my way. Since I got [to Chicago], I'm just doing the same thing. I'm commanding the ball better too, and that's been a huge part of my career so far—commanding my fastball. Since I've been [here], I've been able to command my fastball more consistently.
HEAD GAMES When you struggle like that, a bunch of stuff starts to come to your mind—a lot of negative thoughts. But I never lost my confidence. I just thought, "It's got to change. One day it's going to change. You've done it before. You know you can do it." But, honestly, you can lose confidence a little bit. That's the worst part is when you're struggling to just get your confidence back and pitch.
RESTORATION PROJECT When I got [to Baltimore] in 2011, they were in the same situation [the Cubs are in now]. They were building. And when I got to the Rangers, they were building too. I've been through that. So [the trade] wasn't a disappointment. I just saw the positive sides to it. I was getting more opportunities to pitch, and I could be part of another team that grows up.
THE CLOSER When you know somebody has confidence in you, it makes you feel more confidence too. About the closer situation, I'm just one of those kinds of guys. As a reliever, you want to be a closer. But I'm really not thinking about it right now. I just like to be ready for any situation that can help the team win. Just compete. I love to compete. I love the competition. Being up there in the seventh inning, eighth inning, ninth inning, it's competition. I love that. I don't care if it's the ninth or the seventh.
CLASSIC MOMENT Since the first WBC, I was wishing to be a part of that team to represent [the Dominican Republic]. It was huge for me to be a part of the [2013] team and be the big key for our wins. I was just giving it all I got. It was big. It was beautiful. … You know you're playing for your country. You're playing for the Dominican Republic. It was a dream.
FAN FAVORITES I always watched Jose Reyes. I used to play shortstop. As a pitcher, I always liked Mariano Rivera. He's a classic. He's unbelievable. He makes things look way easier than they are. I would love to do what he does.
From the Pages of Vine Line: Q&A with Ryan Sweeney
(Photo by Stephen Green)
The 2013 season marked Ryan Sweeney's second stint as a major leaguer in Chicago. Originally drafted by the White Sox in 2003, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native spent two seasons on the South Side before being traded to Oakland and then Boston. Prior to last year, Sweeney was signed by the Cubs, where he enjoyed a successful, though injury-riddled, campaign. The following can be found in the December issue of Vine Line.
MOVING UP I started off in Triple-A. I had to go there for a few weeks and then come up here. But I loved it. Obviously [the Cubs] gave me an opportunity to play every day. Being from the Midwest and being able to play in Chicago, I'm excited to be here.
BACK HOME People always ask [if it was fun to play close to home with Triple-A Iowa]. It was fun, but that wasn't my goal to go play for the Iowa Cubs. I knew I had to go there to get some at-bats before I came up, because I got nontendered so late by the Red Sox. I mean, it was cool, but it was snowing and cold the first couple of weeks, so it wasn't really that great of an experience.
INJURY BUG It always seems like when you're doing good, that's when the injury comes. It's never when you're doing terrible. It was definitely frustrating to be hitting decently well and [then to fracture my rib in June]—and to be playing every day at the time when I had the injury. I just looked at it as, "When I come back, I have to finish strong and show them that I can still play every day against lefties and righties."
TV TIES [Growing up] I was a Braves fan because of TBS, but my grandparents are huge Cubs fans. They watch the Cubs every single day. When I got drafted by the White Sox, they were like, "All right, well, we'll root for you." But now that I'm over here, they love it. They can just watch it on WGN every day.
GOOD DIRECTION I felt like this was the right fit. I like the direction the organization is headed as far as getting young. I'm still fairly young for being a guy that has some time in. I just thought it would be a good opportunity, and playing here at Wrigley Field—there are worse places to play.
FENWAY VS. WRIGLEY They're both different. Being a part of the 100-year anniversary of Boston [in 2012], and then next year's going to be the 100-year anniversary here, will be pretty cool. I like both places. They're both great atmospheres to play in, and the fans are great.
SWING CHANGE I went and hit with Rod Carew for a couple of weeks this last offseason and just learned some stuff from him, and [there were] some different keys I took away from it. I struggled a little bit with it in Spring Training. I was doing great hitting off the tee and flips and everything, but once you get into the game, transferring it over [can be difficult]. I feel like once I started the regular season, I was kind of where I wanted to be with my swing, not changing much throughout the entire year and just staying consistent.
OFF THE FIELD I basically just play golf. I don't golf much around here. I played at Cog Hill [a few months ago]. I've got a buddy that's a part of a country club around here, so I play out there every once in a while. But I'll probably golf a little more once I'm here a little bit more.


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|September 25, 2013 12:00 PM EDT
Produced by SYS-CON Events the "OpenStack® Fundamentals Track at Cloud Expo®" will take place November 4-5, 2013, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, CA.
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Ceph and DevOps in the Cloud
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Session Description: Is your IT organization being pushed to increase the tempo of your software release cycles? Do you currently automate application builds and the creation of staging environments? Do you always test thoroughly before pushing code out to production? Does your hair catch on fire every time you put out a new release? IT organizations large and small are turning to the set of processes, technologies, and organizational practices called DevOps as a way to deal with the need to release software more often and with less trouble by changing the way the Development and Operations teams cooperate.
In his session at the 13th International Cloud Expo®, Uri Budnik, Director of Business Development at RightScale, will discuss how Ceph, a fully open source distributed object store, network block device, and file system designed for reliability, scalability and performance, is transforming DevOps.
Speaker Bio: Uri Budnik is the Director of Business Development at RightScale. He is responsible for the ISV partner program. Prior to RightScale, he co-founded and managed the datacenter infrastructure for a technology company that provides automated podcasting tools to newspapers and magazines. Before that, he held a variety of roles at Qwest Communications in the internet services and data center division including subject matter expert for complex hosting. Uri Budnik won the entrepreneur of the year award from the Marshall Business School of the University of Southern California and started a company based on that award-winning business plans.
The Cloud Needs to Look More Like the Data Center
Speaker: Nelson Nahum
Session Description: Why are most Enterprise applications and trillions of dollars in Enterprise IT budgets staying out of the cloud? In his session at the 13th International Cloud Expo®, Nelson Nahum, CEO & CTO of Zadara Storage, will compare the requirements of enterprise applications with cloud offerings, from Amazon Web Services to OpenStack, and analyze the gaps that exist. We will then show how to make the cloud a much more inviting place for Enterprises.
Speaker Bio: Nelson Nahum is CEO & CTO of Zadara Storage. A thought leader for software-defined storage, he brings 20+ years of storage experience to the company. Prior to co-founding Zadara, he was Fellow and VP of Software Engineering at LSI. Previously he was CTO and co-founder of StoreAge (acquired by LSI), where he invented out-of-band storage virtualization. He holds multiple patents and a BSEE from the Technion.
Delivering Guaranteed Performance Through an SDS Framework
Speaker: Dave Wright
Session Description: For cloud providers, offering predictable storage performance backed by firm SLAs will become a competitive differentiator that drives greater customer affinity and a better application experience. Many providers feel that a Software Defined Storage (SDS) frameworks hold the key to delivering guaranteed performance, yet this "software abstraction layer" is only half of the solution. SDS frameworks are dependent on the virtualized resources presented to it, and without the granular abstraction of physical storage resources, these frameworks will remain limited.
In his session at the 13th International Cloud Expo®, Dave Wright, Founder & CEO of SolidFire, will explore how to deliver guaranteed performance today, through intelligent storage architectures and software defined control planes of CloudStack, OpenStack, and VMware.
Speaker Bio: Dave Wright is Founder & CEO of SolidFire. He left Stanford to start GameSpy Industries, which merged with IGN Entertainment. In 2007, he founded Jungle Disk, a cloud-based storage and backup startup acquired by Rackspace. Wright worked with the Rackspace Cloud division to build a cloud platform supporting tens of thousands of customers. In 2009, he founded SolidFire.
Ceph: Distributed Storage for the Cloud
Speaker: Greg Farnum
Session Description: Ceph is an open source distributed object store, network block device, and file system designed for reliability, performance, and scalability. With an advanced placement algorithm, active storage nodes, and peer-to-peer gossip protocols, Ceph scales from terabytes to exabytes with no single point of failure. Through native integrations with OpenStack and Apache CloudStack, Ceph provides a complete object and block storage solution for cloud data. Instead of using scale-up storage appliances, Ceph is a software solution that works on commodity hardware.
In his session at the 13th International Cloud Expo®, Greg Farnum, a Software Developer at Inktank, will discuss the Ceph architecture, its current status, and plans for future development. Attendees will also learn how Ceph integrates with major cloud platforms to provide storage for public and private cloud deployments.
Speaker Bio: Greg Farnum is one of the core engineers on the Ceph open source storage project. He has been working on Ceph since he graduated from Harvey Mudd College in 2009. He is passionate about solving problems in distributed computing. Ceph is a distributed object store and file system designed to provide excellent performance, reliability and scalability. Greg has also interacted with other open source projects, including Hadoop, Hypertable, the Linux Kernel, and Crowbar, in his work on Ceph.
Additional information and daily updates on "OpenStack Fundamentals Summit" can be obtained on:
Twitter: @CloudExpo
Cloud Expo: CloudComputingExpo.com
OpenStack Fundamentals Track: OpenStackFundamentals.Ulitzer.com
Have questions about OpenStack Summit? Contact SYS-CON Events
Registration ▸Register FREE Here (with "openstackVIPgold" coupon code)
Explosive growth in connected devices. Enormous amounts of data for collection and analysis. Critical use of data for split-second decision making and actionable information. All three are factors in making the Internet of Things a reality. Yet, any one factor would have an IT organization pondering its infrastructure strategy. How should your organization enhance its IT framework to enable an Internet of Things implementation? In his session at Internet of @ThingsExpo, James Kirkland, Chief Architect for the Internet of Things and Intelligent Systems at Red Hat, will describe how to revoluti...
Oct. 25, 2014 05:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,726
The Internet of Things will greatly expand the opportunities for data collection and new business models driven off of that data. In her session at Internet of @ThingsExpo, Esmeralda Swartz, CMO of MetraTech, will discuss how for this to be effective you not only need to have infrastructure and operational models capable of utilizing this new phenomenon, but increasingly service providers will need to convince a skeptical public to participate. Get ready to show them the money! Speaker Bio: Esmeralda Swartz, CMO of MetraTech, has spent 16 years as a marketing, product management, and busin...
Oct. 24, 2014 09:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,433
Samsung VP Jacopo Lenzi, who headed the company's recent SmartThings acquisition under the auspices of Samsung's Open Innovaction Center (OIC), answered a few questions we had about the deal. This interview was in conjunction with our interview with SmartThings CEO Alex Hawkinson. IoT Journal: SmartThings was developed in an open, standards-agnostic platform, and will now be part of Samsung's Open Innovation Center. Can you elaborate on your commitment to keep the platform open? Jacopo Lenzi: Samsung recognizes that true, accelerated innovation cannot be driven from one source, but requires a...
Oct. 23, 2014 11:45 PM EDT Reads: 2,697
SYS-CON Events announced today that Red Hat, the world's leading provider of open source solutions, will exhibit at Internet of @ThingsExpo, which will take place on November 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Red Hat is the world's leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As the connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, a...
Oct. 23, 2014 11:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,740
P2P RTC will impact the landscape of communications, shifting from traditional telephony style communications models to OTT (Over-The-Top) cloud assisted & PaaS (Platform as a Service) communication services. The P2P shift will impact many areas of our lives, from mobile communication, human interactive web services, RTC and telephony infrastructure, user federation, security and privacy implications, business costs, and scalability. In his session at Internet of @ThingsExpo, Robin Raymond, Chief Architect at Hookflash Inc., will walk through the shifting landscape of traditional telephone a...
Oct. 23, 2014 08:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,614
SYS-CON Events announced today that Matrix.org has been named "Silver Sponsor" of Internet of @ThingsExpo, which will take place on November 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Matrix is an ambitious new open standard for open, distributed, real-time communication over IP. It defines a new approach for interoperable Instant Messaging and VoIP based on pragmatic HTTP APIs and WebRTC, and provides open source reference implementations to showcase and bootstrap the new standard. Our focus is on simplicity, security, and supporting the fullest feature set.
Oct. 23, 2014 08:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,731
BSQUARE is a global leader of embedded software solutions. We enable smart connected systems at the device level and beyond that millions use every day and provide actionable data solutions for the growing Internet of Things (IoT) market. We empower our world-class customers with our products, services and solutions to achieve innovation and success. For more information, visit www.bsquare.com.
Oct. 23, 2014 08:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,678
How do APIs and IoT relate? The answer is not as simple as merely adding an API on top of a dumb device, but rather about understanding the architectural patterns for implementing an IoT fabric. There are typically two or three trends: Exposing the device to a management framework Exposing that management framework to a business centric logic • Exposing that business layer and data to end users. This last trend is the IoT stack, which involves a new shift in the separation of what stuff happens, where data lives and where the interface lies. For instance, it's a mix of architectural style...
Oct. 23, 2014 07:45 PM EDT Reads: 1,726
SYS-CON Events announced today that SOA Software, an API management leader, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 15th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. SOA Software is a leading provider of API Management and SOA Governance products that equip business to deliver APIs and SOA together to drive their company to meet its business strategy quickly and effectively. SOA Software's technology helps businesses to accelerate their digital channels with APIs, drive partner adoption, monetize their assets, and achieve a...
Oct. 23, 2014 06:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,750
From a software development perspective IoT is about programming "things," about connecting them with each other or integrating them with existing applications. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Yakov Fain, co-founder of Farata Systems and SuranceBay, will show you how small IoT-enabled devices from multiple manufacturers can be integrated into the workflow of an enterprise application. This is a practical demo of building a framework and components in HTML/Java/Mobile technologies to serve as a platform that can integrate new devices as they become available on the market.
Oct. 23, 2014 06:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,678
SYS-CON Events announced today that Utimaco will exhibit at SYS-CON's 15th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Utimaco is a leading manufacturer of hardware based security solutions that provide the root of trust to keep cryptographic keys safe, secure critical digital infrastructures and protect high value data assets. Only Utimaco delivers a general-purpose hardware security module (HSM) as a customizable platform to easily integrate into existing software solutions, embed business logic and build s...
Oct. 23, 2014 05:45 PM EDT Reads: 1,651
Connected devices are changing the way we go about our everyday life, from wearables to driverless cars, to smart grids and entire industries revolutionizing business opportunities through smart objects, capable of two-way communication. But what happens when objects are given an IP-address, and we rely on that connection, sometimes with our lives? How do we secure those vast data infrastructures and safe-keep the privacy of sensitive information? This session will outline how each and every connected device can uphold a core root of trust via a unique cryptographic signature – a "bir...
Oct. 23, 2014 05:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,540
Internet of @ThingsExpo Silicon Valley announced on Thursday its first 12 all-star speakers and sessions for its upcoming event, which will take place November 4-6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California. @ThingsExpo, the first and largest IoT event in the world, debuted at the Javits Center in New York City in June 10-12, 2014 with over 6,000 delegates attending the conference. Among the first 12 announced world class speakers, IBM will present two highly popular IoT sessions, which will take place November 4-6, 2014 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, Calif...
Oct. 23, 2014 01:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,723
Almost everyone sees the potential of Internet of Things but how can businesses truly unlock that potential. The key will be in the ability to discover business insight in the midst of an ocean of Big Data generated from billions of embedded devices via Systems of Discover. Businesses will also need to ensure that they can sustain that insight by leveraging the cloud for global reach, scale and elasticity.
Oct. 22, 2014 09:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,584
WebRTC defines no default signaling protocol, causing fragmentation between WebRTC silos. SIP and XMPP provide possibilities, but come with considerable complexity and are not designed for use in a web environment. In his session at Internet of @ThingsExpo, Matthew Hodgson, technical co-founder of the Matrix.org, will discuss how Matrix is a new non-profit Open Source Project that defines both a new HTTP-based standard for VoIP & IM signaling and provides reference implementations.
Oct. 22, 2014 01:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,679
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Spansion Inc. (NYSE: CODE), a global leader in embedded systems, today added 96 new products to the Spansion® FM4 Family of flexible microcontrollers (MCUs). Based on the ARM® Cortex®-M4F core, the new MCUs boast a 200 MHz operating frequency and support a diverse set of on-chip peripherals for enhanced human machine interfaces (HMIs) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. The rich set of periphera...
Oct. 21, 2014 08:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,719
SYS-CON Events announced today that Aria Systems, the recurring revenue expert, has been named "Bronze Sponsor" of SYS-CON's 15th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 4-6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Aria Systems helps leading businesses connect their customers with the products and services they love. Industry leaders like Pitney Bowes, Experian, AAA NCNU, VMware, HootSuite and many others choose Aria to power their recurring revenue business and deliver exceptional experiences to their customers.
Oct. 21, 2014 06:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,629
The Internet of Things (IoT) is going to require a new way of thinking and of developing software for speed, security and innovation. This requires IT leaders to balance business as usual while anticipating for the next market and technology trends. Cloud provides the right IT asset portfolio to help today's IT leaders manage the old and prepare for the new. Today the cloud conversation is evolving from private and public to hybrid. This session will provide use cases and insights to reinforce the value of the network in helping organizations to maximize their company's cloud experience.
Oct. 21, 2014 05:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,725
The Internet of Things (IoT) is making everything it touches smarter – smart devices, smart cars and smart cities. And lucky us, we're just beginning to reap the benefits as we work toward a networked society. However, this technology-driven innovation is impacting more than just individuals. The IoT has an environmental impact as well, which brings us to the theme of this month's #IoTuesday Twitter chat. The ability to remove inefficiencies through connected objects is driving change throughout every sector, including waste management. BigBelly Solar, located just outside of Boston, is trans...
Oct. 21, 2014 09:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,872
SYS-CON Events announced today that Matrix.org has been named "Silver Sponsor" of Internet of @ThingsExpo, which will take place on November 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Matrix is an ambitious new open standard for open, distributed, real-time communication over IP. It defines a new approach for interoperable Instant Messaging and VoIP based on pragmatic HTTP APIs and WebRTC, and provides open source reference implementations to showcase and bootstrap the new standard. Our focus is on simplicity, security, and supporting the fullest feature set.
Oct. 20, 2014 11:45 PM EDT Reads: 1,585


text: OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS 2012 SOUTH ASIA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR GRADUATE LEVEL STUDY IN INDIA Deadline: JANUARY 5, 2012 Application Form is Free and can be Duplicated Apply Online at http://www.soros.org/grants/oas Paper and Online Applications are Equally Evaluated Introduction The Open Society Scholarship Programs is pleased to announce the South Asia Scholarship Program for Afghanistan and Nepal. The program provides opportunities and scholarships for high quality post-graduate study for individuals from Afghanistan and Nepal who demonstrate both academic and professional excellence and the potential to become leaders in the field of Sustainable Development Practice The Program also introduces students from the participating countries to colleagues from the region and encourages cross-national dialogues among professional communities. Approximately 10 awards (up to 5 per country) will be granted in 2012. Fellows will be placed at TERI University (www.teriuniversity.ac.in) in India for two-year graduate programs in Sustainable Development Practice beginning in July 2012 and concluding in May 2014. Eligibility The Program does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. The competition is merit-based and open to those meeting the following criteria: 1. Hold an undergraduate degree at the time of application deadline with an excellent academic record; 2. Be a legal resident of and currently living in home country (Afghanistan or Nepal); 3. Have experience working in home country; 4. Be proficient in English; 5. Be committed to returning to home country after completion of the program to continue work and impart knowledge gained during studies. Selection of finalists Competition for the South Asia Scholarship Program is open, merit-based, and relies on a combination of an applicant's suitability towards the program's objectives and host university admissions criteria. Selection is made on the basis of academic excellence, professional aptitude, leadership potential in the field of specialization, proven commitment to open society values, long-term commitment to furthering the profession in applicants' home country, and English language proficiency. Pre-selection and Testing: Submitted applications will be screened by representatives from OSF and Host University. Applicants chosen to continue in the competition as semifinalists will be required to take the TOEFL or ITP. Interviews and Final Selection: Semifinalists will be interviewed in-person or via videoconference by a committee of representatives from OSF and potential Host University. The committee will recommend finalists for placement at host universities. Expectations of MA Fellows Fellows must uphold the academic standards of their host institution and undertake full- time study for the duration of the Program. Failure to do so will result in dismissal. All fellows are expected to earn an MA within the standard 2-year program period. Fellows must comply with the visa regulations of the host country and may be subject by the terms of the visa to a home residency requirement upon completion of the Program. OSF expects that Fellows will return to their home countries after completing the degree and take up meaningful posts in their field. Fellows are given the Program's "Terms and Conditions" with detailed information on the rules & policies that must be followed during the Program. These requirements will be reviewed in detail with all grantees prior to the beginning of the fellowship. Instructions Read all instructions and information carefully before completing the application. All forms are to be completed in English. Answer every question and write "Not applicable" if a question does not apply to you. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants can submit applications via the Internet at http://www.soros.org/grants/oas (available in late November), or to one of the addresses listed below: Residents of Afghanistan: Residents of Nepal: Open Society Foundation Afghanistan Alliance for Social Dialogue House No. 53 Shahre-Naw GPO Box 25334 Kochea Kasabi Ramchandra Marg, Battisputali Kabul, Afghanistan Kathmandu, Nepal Contact: Mr. Mohammad Yusuf Contact: Ms. Richa Shivakoti Email: email@example.com Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Phone: +93 (0) 784 609 868 Phone: +977 1 4472807 Applicants wishing to apply in paper may do so by downloading a paper application at http://www.soros.org/initiatives/scholarship/focus_areas/south-asia/guidelines. Application forms are free and can be duplicated, and paper and online applications are evaluated equally. Attachments: Attach the following items to your application in the order given below. 1. Essay. Should not exceed two typed pages or approximately 500 words. 2. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV), in English. Your educational and professional history. Additional Documents: Mail all of the additional documents to the Open Society Foundations Afghanistan if you are a resident of Afghanistan, and the Alliance for Social Dialogue if you are a resident of Nepal, in the order given below. Translations must have the stamp or seal of the English language faculty or notary or translating service confirming the accuracy of the translation. Applicant may not write or certify his/her own translation. 1. Two recommendation letters. Must include the stamp or seal of the organization or university or be written on letterhead. Recommendations in the local language must have a certified English translation. 2. Official copies of all university transcripts in original language. Official transcripts must bear the stamp or seal of the department or faculty of the university that issued it. For the purposes of this program, a transcript is a list of every course taken to receive a diploma, and the grade received in each course. 3. Certified English translations of university transcripts. English language transcripts must bear the stamp or seal of the department or faculty of the university that issued it. 4. Official copies of all diplomas in original language. Official diploma must bear the stamp or seal of the department or faculty of the university that issued it. 5. Certified English translations of diplomas. English language diplomas must bear the stamp or seal of the department or faculty of the university that issued it. 6. Photocopy of passport photo page (if available) Verification: The Program reserves the right to verify all information submitted as part of an application. In the event that there is a discrepancy or information is found to be false, the applicant will be declared ineligible. Deadline: Thursday, January 5, 2012 Submission: Documentation (applications, attachments or additional documents) received after the deadline will not be considered. Documentation may not be submitted via email/fax nor enclosed in plastic covers/binders. Documentation will not be returned. Please include "South Asia Scholarship Program" on the envelope addressed to the local partner office in Afghanistan or Nepal listed above. Paper applications: Please type or print in dark ink. Staple attachments and additional documents to your application in the above order. Submit one original and two copies of your application with all attachments and additional documents to the local partner office in Afghanistan or Nepal listed above. Online applications: Submit your application, essay and CV via the Internet. Print the additional documents cover sheet from OAS and include it with the additional documents. Submit one original and two copies of the additional documents to the local partner office in Afghanistan or Nepal listed above. Rasjit Basi Scholarship Programs Open Society Foundations 1700 Broadway, 17th Floor New York, NY 10019 Ph: +1 212-548-0623 Fax: +1 212-548-4652 www.soros.org


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main index
The Winter Guest is a 1995 play by Sharman MacDonald (mother of Keira Knightley) that deals with four different relationships over the course of one freezing cold day in a village on the east coast of Scotland. Frances, a photographer, is hiding away from the world after the death of her husband and is being pestered by her mother, Elspeth. Her son, Alex, skips school and spends the day trying to chat up Nita, who he's just met. Also dogging it are Sam and Tom, who hang out on the deserted beach for the day. They pass by Chloe and Lily, two elderly women who spend their days attending strangers' funerals.In 1997, it was made into a film starring Emma Thompson as Frances and her mother Phyllida Law as Elspeth.
Provides examples of:


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It seems I can't read directions and I mixed 1 oz. to 1 gallon instead of 1 oz to 5 gallons. Sanitized brewed and started fermenting. Is this going to ruin the beer or will it still be drinkable?
I doubt if you did any harm since you dumped out the solution and only a little bit would have been left clinging to the sides. If you rinsed, you even got rid of that.
No need to mix up 5 gallons at a time. In the future, just mix it in a spray bottle and spray everything. A quart of spray will last through many batches and is much more economical.
I did this exact thing once. Read the instructions too fast and used 1 oz per gallon. Made the best beer yet with super-starsan bubbles in the fermenter.
"Because we have hands we brew BEER"
Well this all seems to be good news thanks for the replies
Actually, your yeast will probably love you for it. They go nuts for the stuff, apparently.


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Step 1: Tools
1 pic: table saw
2 pic: compresor
3 pic: Compound Miter Saw
Step 2: Preparation
Cut them to desired height and width.
Make a pointy thing on the top.
Then make a frame, you can use any long boards, i used 1x2 boards.(i think). I used 2x4s for the ones that went into the ground.
Step 3: Nail The Boards
But first, nail two boards at each side of a fence and nail a long board to the top, make sure it is leveled.This will make it easier to make them look all even. Leave an inch between them.
Step 4: YOU ARE DONE!!!
you can paint it, or leave it like that, you choice .
Leave some comment, don't be too cruel this is my first instructable.


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Experience our award-winning Colby Jack as a convenient snack.
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text:
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Canoeing Trips
Adventure Articles
Experience the Fun of An Overnight River Trip in Northwest Florida
The experience of kayaking or canoeing with family and friends, and then camping out on the white sandy beaches under the moonlight is something that is certain to captivate you.
Canoes with seat backs are $60.00 per canoe on the 4, 7, or 11-mile Coldwater Day Trips. Canoes without seat backs are $50.00 per canoe. Children 12 and under may ride free in the middle of the canoe. Maximum capacity per canoe: two adults and two small children.
If you are a first time paddler, are not in good physical condition, or are not a strong swimmer, we recommend the 4-mile trip. Recommended weight limit for one canoe is 500 lb. Please be advised that river levels in parts of the trip are more than 6 ft deep and that proper caution should be taken when choosing your river adventure.
Payment for 11-mile and 15-mile day trips, canoes with seat backs, all overnight trips, and trips on the Blackwater River and Juniper River must be made in advance.
For an additional thrill, consider grouping your canoe trip with an exhilarating flight among the tree tops at the Zip Adventures Canopy Tour!
11 Mile Canoe Trip at Coldwater Creek
Trip is 11 miles. Departs at 8am only. Prepayment required 24 hours in advance.
14 Mile Canoe Trip at Blackwater River
Trip is 14 miles on Blackwater River. Prepayment required 48 hour in advance notice $200 minimum per trip is required for the Blackwater River trips.
15 Mile Canoe Trip at Coldwater Creek
Trip is 15 miles. Departs at 8am only. Prepayment required 24 hours in advance.
4 Mile Canoe Trip at Coldwater Creek
Trip is 4 miles. Departs on the hour, 8am-3pm in season, 8am-1pm off season.
7 Mile Canoe Trip at Coldwater Creek
Trip is 7 miles. Departs on the hour, 8am-2pm in season, 8am-1pm off season.


text: Landlord and tenant – Assignment – Foreclosure By: Tom Egan March 4, 2014 Where a plaintiff claiming to be owed rent from the defendant commercial tenant was awarded summary judgment, (1) the defendant's appeal should not have been dismissed and (2) the evidence was insufficient to warrant the summary judgment award. Background "In September, 2004, Bluefin Properties, LLC ('Bluefin') obtained a loan from Marlborough Savings Bank (the 'bank'), secured by ... Subscribe Login Email Address: Password: Already a paid subscriber but not registered for online access yet? For instructions on how to get premium web access, click here.Forgot your password? Share this:EmailPrintFacebookLinkedInTwitterGoogle +1 2:15 pm Tue, March 4, 2014 Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Tom Egan


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sammi didnt win at all either time lol anyway it was good just another day at the shore :)
elena:damon im srry i killed your speacial friend
damon:its ok elena u can be my new special friend this is from the upcoming episode the descent
*could thats what i meant


text:
Dr. Mahan Chehrenama, DO
Neurology, Inova Imaging Neurology And Treatment Center
- 8201 Greensboro Dr Ste 1003
McLean, VA 22102
- 1 Office Location
- Email a Friend
- (703) 212-0700
Dr. Mahan Chehrenama has been practicing medicine for 21 years. Dr. Chehrenama graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1993. She practices medicine in McLean, VA and specializes in Neurology. Dr. Chehrenama is affiliated with Inova Alexandria Hospital.
Gender: Female
Years in Practice: 21 Years
Languages Spoken: English
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Date: 1993
Hospital Affiliations: Inova Alexandria Hospital
Specialties: Neurology
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